A federal judge ruled Thursday that a team of federal prosecutors including Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta broke federal law when they brokered a plea deal with child molester and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, The Miami Herald reported.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra reviewed Epstein’s case and concluded that the team of prosecutors violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act by keeping secret the terms of the plea agreement from Epstein’s victims until after a judge had signed off on the deal. Otherwise, the victims could have chosen to veto to the deal.
“Epstein used paid employees to find and bring minor girls to him,” Marra wrote, according to The Miami Herald. “Epstein worked in concert with others to obtain minors not only for his own sexual gratification, but also for the sexual gratification of others.” (RELATED: Sen. Sasse Launches Investigation Into DOJ Handling Of Epstein Case)
Jeffrey Epstein is shown in this undated Florida Department of Law Enforcement photo. REUTERS/Florida Department of Law Enforcement/Handout via Reuters
“Particularly problematic was the Government’s decision to conceal the existence of the [agreement] and mislead the victims to believe that federal prosecution was still a possibility,” Marra continued. “When the Government gives information to victims, it cannot be misleading. While the Government spent untold hours negotiating the terms and implications of the [agreement] with Epstein’s attorneys, scant information was shared with victims.”
As part of the plea deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting prostitution from minors and served 13 months in a county jail. An ongoing FBI investigation into more victims of Epstein’s alleged child sex trafficking ring was halted and many of Epstein’s clients and accomplices went free without being identified publicly.
Epstein’s friends numbered many rich and powerful people including former President Bill Clinton and current President Donald Trump.
Trump nominated Acosta, who served as U.S. attorney in Miami and signed off on Epstein’s deal, to serve as secretary of Labor and Acosta was confirmed by the Senate 60-38 in April 2017.
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